FAST FACTS

DESCRIPTION:

This is a large duck with a black bill, reddish brown eyes and dark yellow-brown legs. The head and upper neck are black with variable white on forehead. The neck, breast, and belly are a rich chestnut brown and the tail, rump, and upper wing an olive-brown.

SIZE:

Approximately 56-58 cm (22-23 in) long

WEIGHT:

Approximately 800-940 g (2 lb)

DIET:

Feeds on grass seeds, small snails

INCUBATION:

30-32 days

CLUTCH SIZE

8-11 eggs

FLEDGING DURATION

8 weeks

SEXUAL MATURITY:

Approximately 1-2 years

LIFE SPAN:

Averages 20-30 years

RANGE:

West central Africa

HABITAT:

Found in rainforest and wooded savannahs, forest streams, marshes, and pools with heavy vegetation

POPULATION:

GLOBAL

Between 10,000-100,000 individuals

STATUS:

IUCN

Not listed

CITES

Appendix III

USFWS

Lower risk/near threatened

FUN FACTS

1.

These birds are not well studied; in fact, as of the late 1990s no wild nests had ever been found.

2.

As with other ducks, males are called drakes, females are hens, and young are ducklings.

ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION

This species is completely dependent on well-forested areas. Accordingly, loss of forest habitat is the main threat to these ducks.